NOTE: Special thanks to KNOE-TV for allowing permission to reprint transcript of news segment published on Monday, July 22nd.
(Kenya Ross – KNOETV)
The Village of Eros is trying to cut down on drivers who speed.
Mayor Roy Daniel Bailey of the village said the area has a terrible speeding problem along Highway 34, and they’re just trying to slow the traffic down. The Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office is not responsible for the enforced radars.
“The Village of Eros has hired a private company to do traffic cameras, and the company is sending motorists tickets in the mail, and I’m not for that, and I have nothing to do with that. It is legal for Eros to hire that company and do that,” said sheriff Andy Brown.
Bailey said when the village first began catching violators this past fall, they caught 134 speeders on the first day. According to the mayor’s office, enforced radars have only helped the village financially, but they want the speeders to slow down. Bailey said he witnesses speeders on a daily basis.
“Well, we were flat broke, when I came in here, and owed everybody in the world. We couldn’t borrow no money, because we owed too much. Couldn’t get no help from the state because we owed too much,” said Bailey. “So, that was a means of trying to get the town afloat.”
The traffic company, known as MetaTraffic, that assists the village issued a citation to a Chatham resident for speeding through Eros in February 2024. The driver owed $140 for speeding six miles to nine miles per hour over the speed limit, which is a violation of the Village of Eros Ordinance 1T of 2023. Sheriff Brown said in the sheriff’s department, the deputies give drivers a 10-mile grace period before writing tickets.
A July 2024 Traffic Ticket Statistics report from MarketWatch Guides shows that a speeding ticket in Louisiana can increase a driver’s auto insurance an average of $721 more each year. The report writes that the average annual car insurance premium in Louisiana is $4,357, and for those with speeding violations, the average annual premium jumps to $5,078.
Even though the Jackson Parish sheriff personally disagrees with the practice, the sheriff’s office placed a flashing billboard sign in the area – warning drivers of the speed trap going through the village.
“The law has changed and if you’re doing this now – even if you’re a private company, the private company has to have a police officer writing the tickets, and they have to be commissioned so the Town of Eros commissioned a police officer for this company, so take that commissioned police officer and give him the radar and it like normal law enforcement,” said Brown.
The mayor of the village said for the past three to four weeks, the office has stopped enforcing radars. The office does not know when they’ll start back enforcing the traffic cameras and issuing citations to the owners of the vehicles. The governor signed ACT No. 103, which became effective in May 2024. It prohibits issuing traffic violation citations in certain circumstances.
To view the segment as it was aired click here.
First of all, if you’re speeding, slow down. What’s the hurry? Now, with respect to the cameras in Eros, I personally don’t see a problem. Many other smaller towns, villages, etc, should follow suit. The residents living along the roadway, walking across the street, children playing near a road, all need to be protected from vehicles exceeding the speed limit. Speed limits, wherever you drive, are there for a reason, to ensure safety of individuals, animals and property. Andy Brown has stated, “my deputies don’t write tickets unless the driver is 10 MPH over the posted speed limit”. Quite sure he is referring to those on Parish roads and not inside the city limits of Jonesboro, Quitman, Chatham, etc. In years past I have lived where traffic enforcement cameras are abundant. They have proven to be very effective, allowed officers/deputies to concentrate on more important violations and yes, has brought in much needed revenue for a city and county. In many instances, those involved in an accident, cameras, in most cases, clearly delineate the “at fault” driver. Far too many folks are in a hurry to get nowhere. It seems someone has got to be n front of the car ahead of them or must get to the next traffic light before the other driver. Life is short enough, don’t make it any shorter by inceasing your risk of being involved in an accident or receiving a ticket, knowing those funds would best be utilized to buy food, gas and other necessities.
I’m not sure which is more absurd…he fact that the mayor failed grammar or that he put the cameras in the give the town revenue to pay his salary. The fact that it’s not reported to insurance smells like a scam. They just want you to pay your fine so they can raise revenue. That’s what he said. It’s less about safety. He said the town was broke. No, I didn’t receive a ticket but I’ll be avoiding the town like the plague.